Pharmacology Flashcards
what 2 endogenous substance act on the B1-adrenoceptors in the heart?
noradrenaline (sympathetic transmitter)
adrenaline (hormone)
what G protein do B1-adrenoceptors in the heart couple to?
Gs proteins
when a B1-adrenoceptor is stimulated, what does the Gs coupled protein do?
acitvates adenylyl cyclase to increase intracellular cAMP concentration stimulates pKA (within myocytes)
what does increasing intracellular cAMP concentration within the pacemaker cells do?
increases slope of pacemaker potential and so increases heart rate
(positive chronotrophic effect)
what endogenous substance acts on M2 muscarinic cholinoreceptors in the heart?
ACh
What G protein do M2-adrenoceptors in the heart couple to?
Gi
when a M2 muscarinic receptor is stimulated, what does the Gi coupled protein do?
- decreases activity of adenylyl cyclase to decrease intracellular concentrations of cAMP
- opens potassium channels to cause hyperpolarisation of SA node
what does decreasing intracellular concentrations of cAMP and opening potassium channels within pacemaker cells do?
decreases slope of pacemaker potential and so decreases heart rate
(negative chronotropic effect)
what are the 3 internodal pathways between the SA node and the AV node? (contained within the right atrium)
anterior internodal pathway
middle internodal pathway
poterior internodal pathway
what is pathway goes to the left atrium from the SA node?
apart from cell-cell spread of excitation through gap junctions
anterior interatrial myocardial band
Bachmann’s Bundle
what does the bundle of his split up into?
right bundle branch
left bundle branch (which splits into anterior division and posterior division)
what is the hierarchy of pacemakers?
SA > AV > other cells within the heart
why is it necessary that the AV node can produce an AP?
in case the SA node fails
why is it necessary that other cells within the heart can produce an AP? (ie like within the conducting fibres)
in case both the SA and AV nodes fail
what is the inwards current of the pacemaker potential also known as?
I(f)
funny current
what stimulates the inwards current of the pacemaker potential? (funny current)
- hyperpolarisation
(ie turning resting potential negative) - cAMP
what does blocking HCN (hyperpolarisation-activated cycline neucleotide gated) channels do to the pacemaker potential slope?
decreases the slope
negative chronotrophic effect
what does ivabradine do?
a selective blocker of HCN channels so slows the heart rate down
what medical condition is ivabradine used in and why?
angina
because slower rate reduces O2 consumption and so reduces coronary artery supply requirement
what does isoprenaline do?
a agonist of B-adrenoceptors and so increases intracellular cAMP concentration and so increases heart rate
what do thyroid hormones do to heart rate?
increase heart rate
positive chronotrophic effect
what does adenosine do to the heart rate?
decreases heart rate
negative chronotropic effect
what does nitric oxide do to the heart rate?
increases heart rate
positive chronotrophic effect
what are the 6 effects of the sympathetic system on the heart?
- increases heart rate
- increases contractility
- increases conduction velocity in AV node (decreases delay)
- increases automacity (tendancy for non-nodal regions to acquire spontaneous activity)
- decreases duration of systole
- decreases cardiac efficiency (with respect to O2 consumption)
what are the 4 effects of the parasympathetic system on the heart?
- decreased heart rate
- decreased contractibility
- decreased conduction in AV node (increased delay)
- overaction may cause dysrhythmias in the atria (not fatal)
what is the Frank-Starling mechanism?
the more the myocardium is stretched, the greater force it exerts upon contraction
(despite of autonomic control)
[ie the greater the venous return, the greater the stroke volume]
what autonomic control can tweak the frank-starling curve?
sympathetic
what happens to the frank-starling curve in cardiac failure?
curve fails as force is not able to match the venous return (stretch)
what 3 factors contribute to increased venous return? (and therefore increased stretch)
- increased skeletal muscle activity
- adrenergic effects on blood vessels (increased venous tone)
- respiratory pump (increased depth and freq)
what does increased intracellular calcium cause?
contraction
what is excitation coupling?
coupling mechanical force to electrical excitation
for the action potential to excite a ventricular muscle cell what must it do when it sweeps across the cell?
dive down into the T-tubules
during depolarisation of a ventricular muscle cell (fast Na influx) what happens?
voltage-gated L-type Ca channels located in the T tubule membrane are opened by depolarisation and let a small amount of Ca in
what does the small calcium influx within a ventricular muscle cell cause?
the activation of RyR (ryanodine) receptors which cause the release of large amounts intracellular calcium from the SR.
what is the process called by which RyR receptors in the ventricular muscle are stimulated cause the release of calcium from the SR?
Ca-induced Ca release
for contraction within the ventricular muscle cell to occur what does calcium activate?
the myofilaments
once the myofilaments within the muscle cell have been activated what occurs?
the Ca is removed from the cytoplasm by the SR CA ATPase (SERCA) and the sarcolemma Na/Ca exchanger
what does the decreased intracellular concentration of calcium after myofilament activation cause?
relaxation
what do positive chronotropic drugs/hormones do to the calcium transients within the cardiac myocyte?
cause bigger and faster calcium transients
what is the function of the RyR within the myocyte?
when stimulated by calcium cause the Ca-induced Ca release from SR
what is the function of SERCA 2a within the myocyte?
removal of Ca at the end of a beat (puts Ca++ back into stores
what are the 4 sites of protein kinase A action within the myocyte?
RyR (ryanodine receptor)
LTCC (L-type calcium channels on T-tubule membrane)
PLB
Troponin
what does protein kinase A phosphrylation of LTCC cause within the myocyte?
increases trigger calcium and so increases Ca-induced Ca release (causing increased force of contraction)
what does protein kinase A phosphorylation of RyR do within the myocyte?
increases size of Calcium transient (ie amount leaving SR) and therefore increases force of contraction
what does protein kinase A phosphorylation of PLB do?
increases uptake by SERCA and so:
- accelerates relaxation (makes contraction shorter)
- increases SR calcium content
what is the function of troponin?
regulates the actin/myosin interaction using calcium
what does protein kinase A phosphorlation of troponin do?
phosphorylation of troponin reduces the affinity for calcium, there is a minor reduction in contraction but this accelerates relaxation
what is the principal determinant of calcium binding to troponin C to cause contraction?
the rate calcium diffuses from the SR
ie phosphorylation of RyR
what is the principle determinant of the unbinding of calcium once a contraction has occured?
phosphorylation of troponin
what is dobutamines effect on the heart?
selective b1-adrenoceptor agonist so increases force and rate
when is exogenous adrenaline used?
during cardiac arrest
emergency treatment of asthma
anaphylactic shock
when is dobutamine used?
for acute, but potentially reversible, heart failure
eg following cardiac surgery
why are b-1 adrenoceptor agonists regarded as ‘toxic’?
because long term stimulation of sympathetic system causes heart failure
what is propanolol?
a non-selective b-blocker
antagonist of b1 and b2 adrenoceptors
at rest, what is the effect of b-adrenoceptor antagonists on the heart and why?
little effect on rate, force
this is due to the sympathetic system not being too active during rest
during exercise, what is the effect of b-adrenoceptor antagonists on the heart?
rate and force are significantly depressed
coronary vessel diameter are marginally vasodilated
(as myocardial O2 requirement falls there is more effective oxygenation of the heart)
what do b2-adrenoceptors stimulation cause on the coronary vessels?
vasodilation
what is atenolol?
a selective B1-blocker
what is metoprolol?
a selective B1- blocker
what are the 4 clinical uses of B-adenoceptor antagonists?
- dysrhythmias
- hypertension
- angina
- heart failure
what are the 6 adverse effects of b-blockers?
* which have a lesser risk is B1 selective agents are used
- bronchospasm*
- aggravation of cardiac failure
- bradycardia (or heart block)
- hypoglycaemia* (in patients with poorly controlled diabetes)
- fatigue (due to decreased CO and skeletal muscle perfusion)
- cold extremities (loss of vasodilation in cutaneous vessels)
why might b-blockers cause aggravation of cardiac failure?
patients with heart disease may rely on sympathetic drive to maintain an adequate CO for perfusion of their body tissues
what is atropine?
a non selective muscarinic receptor antagonist
what are the effects of atropine on the cardiovascular system?
- increase in heart rate (modest in normal subjects, pronounced in athletes who have increased vagal tone)
- no effect on TPR (no parasympathetic innervation to blood vessels)
- no effect upon the respone to exercise
what are the 3 clinical uses of atropine?
- to reverse bradycardia following an MI (in which vagal tone is elevated)
- as an adjunt to anaesthesia
- in anticholinesterase poisoning (to reduce excessive parasympathetic activity
what is the pharmocodynamic effect of digoxin?
increases contractility of the heart?
what type of drugs are digoxin and dobutamine?
inotropic drugs
enhance contractility
what is the clinical use of digoxin?
in heart failure
especially in patients with AF- due to effects on AV node
how does digoxin work?
- blocks the sarcolemma Na/K ATpase which results in calcium unable to leave cell causing more to go into the SR
(incresed contactility) - increases AV node refractory period
what effect does digoxin have on the autonomic system?
none
what happens if you give digoxin to a patient with hypokalaemia?
effects of digoxin are dangerously enhanced
what are the 2 most serious effects of digoxin?
- excessive depression of AV node conduction- heart block
2. dysrhythmias
what is levosimendan?
a calcium-sensitiser: inotropic drug
how does levosimendan work?
- binds to troponin C in cardiac muscle sensitising it to the action of calcium
- causes vasodlation
what is the clinical use on levodimendan?
treatment of acute decompensated heart failure
what does contraction of vascular smooth muscle depend on?
intracellular concetration of calcium
in a vascular smooth muscle cell what are the 2 ways calcium concentration can be increased?
influx of Ca across membrane gradient (conc or electrical gradient)
Ca released from intracellular stores (eg SR)
in smooth muscle cell (very different to cardiac and skeletal muscle), how does calcium cause contraction?
- calcium binds to calmodulin to form a calcium-camodulin complex.
- this complex activates myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) which phosphorylates myosin-light chain.
- the phosphorylated myosin-LK can form cross bridges and allow myosin and actin to slide over each other and contract.
how does relaxation occur in a vascular smooth muscle cell?
- cGMP activates myosin-LC-phosphotase
- myosin-LC-phosphotase strips a phosphate from the phosphorylated myosin-LC converting it into inactive myosin-LC.
- the cross bridges break and relaxation occur
compare the functions of MLCK and MLC-phosphotase
MLCK phosphorylates inactive Myosin-LC
MLC-phosphotase strips a phosphate from active mysoin-LC
reverse roles
what 3 vasodilating substances work through NO production?
bradykinin
ANP
serotonin (5-HT)
what type of manner does NO signal in?
paracrine (induces an effect in cells near by)
what does NO do within a vascular smooth muscle cell?
- activation of guanylate cyclase
2. activates calcium-dependent potassium channels
what is the role of guanylate cyclase within a vascular smooth muscle cell?
(activated by NO)
converted GTP to cGMP
cGMP initiates the relaxation pathway
what happens when calcium-dependent potassium channels are activated?
cause potassium to leave the cell causing repolarisation.
this repolarisation closes voltage gated calcium channels and causes relaxation
what 2 ways can calcium-dependent potasssium channels become activated?
stimulation by NO
depolarisation
what is the function of organic nitrates?
relax all type of smooth muscle
why are organic nitrates a first choice for angina patients?
- they redirect the blood from unhealthy vessels to healthy vessels to bypass the block
- decreased myocardial oxygen requirement
why is there a decreased myocardial oxygen requirement when using organic nitrates?
decreased preload (due to reduced venomotor tone) decreased afterload (de to reduced vasomotor tone)
how do organic nitrates redirect blood from unhealthy vessels to bypass blockages?
dilate collateral vessels
why are arterioles downstream to a blockage already fully dilated?
due to local factors such as hypoxia etc
what are the 2 main types of organic nitrates used in practice?
glyceryltrinitrate
isosorbide mononitrate
compare glyceryltrinitrate and isosorbide mononitrate in terms of length of acting?
GTN- short acting (30 min)
isosorbide mononitrate- long acting (4 hours)
compare glyceryltrinitrate and isosorbide mononitrate in terms of effect of first pass metabolism?
GTN- extensive first pass metabolism
isosorbide mononitrate- resistant to first pastt metabolism
how it GTN administered?
sublinguial tablet or spray or transdermal patch
how should organic nitrates be used for angina?
prophylactically
GTN can also relieve attacks
what can happen with repeated administration of organic nitrates?
tolerance- diminished effect
how can you minimise tolerance of organic nitrates?
nitrate-low periods
usually at night
what is a common effect of organic nitrates which may occur initially?
headaches due to dilation of cranial circulation
what 3 things down regulate the production of endothelin?
nitric oxide
natriuretic peptides
shear stress
what are bosentan and ambrisentan?
antagonists of the ETa receptor (which endothlin acts on)
when are bosentan and ambrisentan (antagonists of the ETa receptor) used?
in treatment of pulmonary hypertension
what is a long term effect of angiotensin II?
promotes cell growth
what are the 2 functions of ACE?
converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II
inactivated bradykinin
where is ACE found?
bound to the membrane of endothelial cells
what is the role of ace inhibitors?
-pril
block the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II
compare the effect of ACE inhibitors in normal subjecs and hypertensive patients?
small fall in MAP in normal subjects
large fall in MAP in hypertensive patients (since in these patients renin secretion is usually enhanced)
what are the common adverse effects of ACE inhibitors?
initial hypotention (esp in patients on diuretics too) dry cough (due to bradykinin accumulation) renal dysfunction
what are the adverse effects of ACE inhibitors?
initial hypotention (esp in patients on diuretics too) dry cough (due to bradykinin accumulation)
what is the role of AT1 receptor blockers (ARBs)?
-sartan
competitevly block the agonist action of angeiotensin I at AT1 receptors
what are ACEIs and ARBs contraindicated in?
pregnancy
bilateral renal artery stenosis
if a patient has a intolerable dry cough with ACE inhibitors what drug should they be switched to?
ARBs
as there is no increase in bradykinin
what are ACEIs and ARBs contraindicated in?
pregnancy
bilateral renal artery stnosis
what are the clinical uses of ACE inhibitors and ARBs? (and explain)
- hypertension (reduces TRP and MABP)
- cardiac failure (reduces TPR to decrease cardiac work load, also causes regression of LVH)
- following an MI (same as above)
what are the clinical uses of beta-blockers?
- angina (only stable and unstable)
because the decrease myocardial O2 requirement and increase the amount of time spent in diastole which improves perfusion - hypertenstion
reduce MAP and reduced renin release from the kidneys - heart failure
decreases cardiac work load
what is the function of calcium antagonists?
prevent the opening of L-type channels in response to depolarisation, this limits calcium influx
in the SA node what do calcium antagonists do?
reduce heart rate by reducing rate of upstroke of the AP
in the AV node what do calcium antagonists do?
reduce rate of conduction
in the ventricles what do calcium antagonists do?
reduce force of contraction by reducing Ca in plateau phase
what are the 3 main calcium antagonists?
verapamil (cardiac selective)
amlodipine (smooth muscle selective)
diltiazem
what are calcium antagonists clinically used in?
hypertension (reduce TPR and MAP)
angina (coronary vasodilation)
dysrhthmias (supression of AV conduction)
which calcium antagonists are preferred for hypertension and why?
smooth muscle selective
to minimise unwanted effects on cardiac muscle (important in heart failure or heart block)
what is the length of acting for amlodopine?
long acting
what calcium antagonists is used in dysrhthmias?
verapamil
what drug combination should be completely avoided in heart failure?
beta-blockers and verapamil
why do calcium antagonists work in variant angina? (unlike beta blockers)
variant angina is caused by episodic coronary spasms, so calcium antagonists work well by not allowing the cell to obtain the calcium required for a spasm
what are minoxidil and nicorandil?
potassium channel openers
how do potassium channel openers work?
work on vascular smooth muscle to open calcium-dependent K channels. this causes hyperpolarisation which switches off L-type calcium channels- causing relaxation of vascular smooth muscle